Thorin Oakenshield heard the shouts of Elves, along with the clapping of bare feet. He peeked through the bars of his cell to see two Elves leading another dwarf through the dungeons. The dwarf's hands shifted slightly. Throin saw a small hobbit run out from behind the dwarf. The hobbit waited until the Elves had locked the dwarf securely into a cell. The Elves left.
Thorin saw the hobbit quietly walk to the cell next to his. The hobbit spoke in a low voice. "Kärn, go get bars of soap. Fifteen should do," whispered the dwarf. The hobbit nodded and began to walk away.
Thorin noticed the hobbit halt and turn to look at him. The hobbit looked so innocent and young. Thorin realized that this hobbit was only a child. The hobbit closed his right hand into a fist, he placed his fist on his left breast and bowed.
"Kärn at your service, sir," said the child as he straightened up. Thorin repeated the child's movement.
"Thorin Oakenshield at yours, young master Kärn," said Thorin, the child smiled. He paused and looked back at the other dwarf's cell.
"Värren?" the child asked, concern suddenly appearing on the child's face.
"Kärn, do as I said, please," said the dwarf's voice, which sounded fainter.
The child shook his head and quietly ran back to the cell. The sound of a lock clicking surprised Thorin. The child ran to his cell and slipped a long silver key into the lock. The door swung open with a faint squeal.
Thorin stepped out as the child had returned to the other dwarf. The child's small hand's clutched the dwarf's tunic. The dwarf was rather young, younger than Thorin's own nephews.
The child threw the key to Thorin. "Collect your friends and family, your weapons are in the cellar," the child said.
Thorin took the key and ran down the hall, he could hear the child's faint sobs as he released his brethren.
Kärn waited until he was sure Thorin Oakenshield had gone to rescue the other dwarves. Kärn clutched the large hand of the man, he considered his father. Värren's chest barely moved as Värren began to both lose consciousness and life.
Kärn wiped at the tears he didn't realize he was releasing. Kärn felt a large, yet gentle hand grip his shoulder. He looked up to see a dwarf with a gentle smile on his face. Kärn returned to looking at Värren, only to realize that Värren had stopped breathing.
"Värren!" he cried, his hands curling into Värren's tunic. He didn't feel the other dwarf gently pry his fingers off Värren's tunic.
Kärn barely felt the dwarf hand him to another, the only thing he truly registered was that Värren was dying because of him.
Óin knelt next to the motionless dwarf, he placed a small vial of green powder beneath the other's nose. A pained cough sounded from the nearly lifeless male, gray-blue eyes fluttered open, before closing again.
Óin gently shifted the dwarf, until he had the dwarf's abdomen resting on his shoulder. Óin turned to look at the child, who had cried himself to sleep.
Óin saw how Bilbo seemed to be surprised as he studied the child. Óin just now noticed the child was also a hobbit.
Óin followed Thorin and the others to the cellar, where their weapons were. They also saw large empty barrels.
After everyone had gotten their weapons they began to stuff themselves into the barrels, the lids had handles that they could hold to keep the tops sealed.
Óin had pounded the lid of the barrel that the child and the dwarf were in. He made sure that Bilbo had also been stuffed into a barrel.
Óin finally climbed into his own barrel and made sure he sealed it tightly. A few hours later a lever was pulled, all the barrels rolling out and down into a rather rough moving river.
Kili kicked at the lid as soon as he was sure they were far away from the Elves. He crawled out of his barrel and saw the others all kicking their own barrels open.
Kili watched the last barrel crunched against the shore, though the lid stayed on rather secure. Kili followed Óin to the barrel and together they pried it open.
Kili knelt down as he saw the young hobbit child viciously clinging to the unconscious dwarf's tunic.
"Hello," he said gently, the child looked up. The child's sapphire blue eyes were large as he looked at the two dwarves.
Kili held his arms out to the child, who slowly let go of the tunic he held. The child crawled out of the barrel and allowed Kili to scoop him up into a gentle embrace.
Kili turned as he heard his uncle coming, Thorin studied the child Kili held.
"Thank you, young master Kärn," said Thorin, the child only managed to nod.
Kili looked at the child, noticing how he didn't seem willing to talk. Kili set the child down and helped Óin pull the dwarf from the barrel.
Kärn held onto the blond haired dwarf's hand. He had learned the dwarf's name was Kili.
"Mr. Kili?" he asked, his voice sounding so small. The dwarf looked down at him.
"Yes?" asked Kili as he stopped and knelt down in front of Kärn.
"Will Värren be okay?" he asked. Kili ruffled his hair.
"Do not worry," said Kili as he gently squeezed Kärn's hand.
"I a-always worry, s-sir," said Kärn as he felt his eyes stinging. He tried to keep from crying, though he felt Kili's finger run across his cheek. Which told him he wasn't succeeding.
"Don't cry, he'll be alright," said Kili. Kärn wrapped his small arms tightly around Kili's waist.
"I-I hope s-so," said Kärn into Kili's abdomen.
Kärn felt Kili lift him up, Kärn didn't have the energy to try to pull away, or run. He curled into Kili's hug, his face buried into the dwarf's shoulder.